Sheet counting mechanism



Feb. l0, 1942. F. KLINK SHEET COUNTING MECHANISM Filed April 25, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 am. M. u s r gw. m., ,w J m w .x .av p@ p Mll? ,w M m m m f f m, M

Feb. w, w42. F. KLINK SHEET COUNTING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lllg.:

Filed April 25,' 1941 TSE Patented Feb. l0, 1942 UNETED STATES PATENT ortica 20 Claims.

This invention pertains generally to a sheet counting mechanism or apparatus but pertains more particularly and specifically to a mechanism or apparatus which automatically counts and records, stacks and marks sheets or the like. The marking of the sheets is done in Vthe stacks and is for the purpose of indicating the number of cases of sheets in a stack, a case of sheets comprising 112 sheets.

'I'he object of the invention is therefore the provision of a mechanism or apparatus capable of performing the above enumerated results in a capable and efficient manner.

A still further object of the invention is that of providing a mechanism of the kind described Which is portable.

A still further object of the invention is that of providing a mechanism of the kind described in which a plurality of sheets can be fed through, counted, stacked and marked at the same time.

A further object is that of providing a mechanism of the kind described which is comparatively cheap and simple of manufacture yet sturdy, dependable and eiiicient in operation.

Other specific objects, novel features of construction and improved results of the mechanism comprising the present invention will appear in more detail from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a rear view of the mechanism constituting the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front View of the mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a detailed side View, partly in vertical section of the marker carrier.

Fig. 4 is a side View, in full line, of the carrier appearing in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail View in vertical section through the marker carrier.

Fig. 6 is a iront view of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 illustrates a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is an end view of a stack of counted and marked sheets.

Fig. 9 is a detail view in horizontal section through the housing 2 I.

The present mechanism has been conceived and designed particularly for use in connection with sheets of tin plate but it is to be understood that it is not limited to such specific use as the mechanism could equally las well be utilized in connection with other sheet material and that by proper alteration, which would require only mechanical skill, the stacks of material could be marked olie to designate any desired number,

such as reams, dozens, or hundreds, rather than cases which constitute 112 sheets.

The mechanism is self-contained, lby which'it is meant that it -is built as a unit solas to be conveniently movable or portable in and varound the factory or shop Within which a device of this kind would be used.

Referring rst particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings it will be seen that there is a base or bottom I supported by and between four corner legs. At the rear corners -of the base there are comparatively long vertically disposed legs 2 and 3 while at the front the base is provided at its corners with comparatively short legs 4 and 5. Each of the lower ends of each of the legs is provided with a roller or caster B. A vertically disposed sheet 1 extends across and is supported upon the rear legs 2 and 3. This'sheet extends upwardly from the base I. This sheet extends across the front faces of the rear legs and Well up to a point near the top thereof :but stops short of the lowermost roll of a pair of horizontally disposed rollers 8 and 9, which extend between the vupper ends of the rear legs and vare rotatably supported therein. The .uppermost roller 8 is mounted in vertically elongated bearings in the legs 2 and `3 and normally restsupon `and frictionally engages the lowermost roll 9. This construction permits the roller to moveor liftverticallyin the legs. The shaft supporting ,the lowermost roll 9 extends outwardly through and beyond :the Vrear leg `3 and carries va sprocket Wheel or gear IfI over which is trained an endless chain or the like I I which extends downwardly from this sprocket wheel and is trained over a second sprocket wheel I2 which is mounted upon and rotatable with the outer Aend of the shaft I3 of an electric motor I4 which is supported upon thev aforementioned base I immediately behind the aforementioned plate l. It is intended that current from any suitable source of supply be provided as a motive power for the motor I4 but it is to be understood that if for any reason it were found desirable other suitable motive power could be substituted for the electricmotor illustrailed.

Approximately centrally of its width the plate 'I is provided 'with a vertically extending and elongated slot I5 the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.y n v Forwardly of the plate l, the platform I is provided with side walls IG the upper ends of which are planed outwardly as at Il. These side walls are kfor the purpose of making in conjunction with the base I a lay-boy kor magazine to receive and automatically stack the sheets which are fed through, as will later appear, between the rollers 8 and 9.

At its rear, behind the rollers the machine is provided with a bench I8 upon which are primarily disposed or supported the sheets which are to be fed through between the rollers 8 and 9. In front of the rollers there is positioned a ap or flag I9. This ap is carried by a vertically disposed rod the lower end of which is supported by and extends into a box or housing 2I. The lower end of this rod carries a cam which, when the rod is rotated, will actuate a pawl 23 which under the tension of a spring 23a is held in constant engagement with the teeth on the outer periphery of a gear 24. By reference to Fig. 2 of the vdrawings it will be seen that the flap or ag I9 is positioned immediately in front of the point of contact between the rollers 8 and 9 and that whenever a sheet passes through between the rollers it will strike the flap and thus cause the flap to be moved to one side which will in turn cause an oscillation of the rod or shaft 20. A coil spring 25 disposed about the rod 28 will cause the rod to rotate and return the flap or flag I9 to its normal position after the complete passage of the sheet through the rolls.

The upper end of the rod 20 extends into a housing or gear case 26 mounted upon the upper end of the leg 3. Within this housing it has geared connection with any suitable transmission arrangement which in turn will rotate a gear 21. The gear box or housing 26 is a part of a counting mechanism designated as an entirety by A. This counting mechanism comprises a large gear wheel 28 having around its peripheral edge a dial composed of numbers which run from l to 112 and is for the purpose of counting the number of sheets which pass between .i

arrow or indicator 29 is associated with this dial gear.

There is an indicating dial 30 associated with the aforementioned sheet counting dial and this second dial is for the purpose of indicating the number of cases-i. e. 112 sheets-which have passed between the rollers and become stacked in the carboy or receiver. This dial carries numbers from 1 to 10 and is actuated or rotated one number each time the ldial gear 28 has made a complete rotation. This movement is effected by providing on the rear voi' the ldial 38 a gear 3| which, upon each complete rotation of the gear dial 28, is engaged by a segmental gear or rack 32 carried on the rear face of the dial gear 28,

From the description thus far given it will be seen that the passage of a sheet of tin through the rollers `causes the rod or shaft 28 to be oscillated and that the oscillation of this shaft actuates the sheet and case counter and will at the same time through the instrumentality of the pawl 23 cause the gear wheel 24 to be rotated. A lock-pawl 33 and its associated spring 34 will permit the gear 24 to be rotated only in one clirection. 'Ihe gear 24 is provided with exactly 112 teeth and on one of its faces is provided with a segmental gear or rack 35 which will, upon each complete revolution of the gear 24, engage the teeth of a closely associated gear wheel 36. The gear 38Y is in reality a double gear in that it has a sprocket tooth portion 31 which is in constant engagement with a chain 38.

The chain 38 is trained over a pair of sprocket wheels 39 and 40 mounted on the plate 1 one being adjacent the lower end of the aforementioned slot I5 and the other adjacent the upper end of said slot. The ends of the chain 38 are connected to the marker-carrying box designated as an entirety at B. It is this box which carries the markers or shims which are projected, as will hereinafter appear, through the slot I5 in the plate 1 and upon the top of each 112th sheet so as to mark the stack of sheets off in 4 Cases.

wall 43, its rear wall 44 and its bottom 45. The

side walls of the box project forwardly beyond the front wall and provide Wings 46 to which the ends of the chain 38 are suitably attached as at 41. The markers or shims 48 are stacked loose- 1y within the box and in operation, as will hereinafter appear, are projected forwardly out of the box through an opening or slot 49 in the front wall thereof at a point just above the bottom of the box. The particular element which ejects the markers is a trigger 58, which is disposed within a longitudinal cut-out portion in the box bottom and has at its rear end an upstanding leg or finger 5I which is disposed behind the rear edge ofthe lowermost marker of the stack of markers in the box. This trigger is provided with a rack 52 having an end 53 which extends beyond the trigger and is in operative engagement with a gear wheel 54 mounted on and rotatable with a shaft 55 which is supported upon and extends between the box side walls 4I and 42. This shaft is rotatable by a gear 5S which is constantly in mesh with a vertically disposed and elongated rack bar 51 which is adjacent to one side of the slot I5 and extends substantially throughout the length thereof. As the marker box B is raised or lowered the gear 55 rolling over the rack 51 will rotate the shaft 55 and likewise the gear 54.

Also adjacent one edge of the slot 55 and extending throughout the greater portion of the length thereof I provide a ratchet plate C.. This ratchet plate at one edge is provided with a plurality of equally spaced apart teeth 58. A dog 59 is pivotally mounted at its upper end to one of the side Walls of the marker box B and normally hangs suspended in substantially a vertical plane and adjacent its lower end is provided with a linger' 60. As will be apparent from Fig. 4 of the drawings the box B can be freely and readily raised as the nger of the dog will ride over the teeth 58 and alternately drop into the space between the teeth. This dog will support the marker-box against dropping under the pull of gravity.

As will be apparent from Fig. 5 of the drawings, the ltrigger 50 at its under side is provided with a lug 6 I which is attached to the aforementioned rack 52. Internally the trigger is hcllowed out to form a chamber for the reception of a coil spring 62 at the opposite ends of which are positioned bumpers B3 and 64. The bumper 64 Aat the rear of the trigger engages 'the stop 65 while the bumper 63' at the front of the trigger engages theV turned down ear 66 at the front end of. the slot 6l in the bottom of the carrier.

The rack l is formed on one edge of a vertical guide 58 which is in separated parallel relationship to a second' guide 69. At one of its sides the carrier-box is provided with a `plate lil which overlaps these guide bars and guides the carrier in its vertical movement.

A bracket 73 serves as a support for the ratchet place C to which this plate is quickly removably connected by bolts or screws ll. 'I'his plate is made quickly removable and detachable for the reason that a different plate in which the distance between the teeth 58 would be greater or less, could be substituted therefor in accord with whether or not the sheets being handled were thicker or thinner. In other words, the particular ratchet plate used will depend upon the thickness of the plates being handled so as to assure that the carrier B is always supported in a position above the stack of plates on the lay-boy so that when a marker is projected from the carrier, as will hereinafter be described, said marker will drop on to the top of the top sheet of the stack of sheets.

The present machine is intended to count out and niark cases of 112 sheets each. It will be understood however that the capacity of the machine, that is, the number of cases which the machine will handle, can be varied Without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention or without requiring the exercise of inventive genius.

When the carrier box B has deposited the last marker between the 9th and 10th cases and is next elevated the ringer 6G of the dog 59 will ride up over the uppermost tooth 58 and when this occurs the dog and its iinger, under the pull of gravity, will assume the position illustrated in dotted lines at the top of Fig. 4 of the drawings. Here it will be seen that the finger 6E has moved down the top face of the uppermost tooth 58 and is behind the plate C with the result that the box is free to drop until the nger engages the portion l2 of the bracket 13 to which the plate C is attached, as mentioned. When the box is .dropped to its lowermost position it is ready again to start a cycle of operation and as it is rst elevated it will assume the position illustrated in dotted lines at the bottom of Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The markers i8 can b-e of pasteboard or any suitable material and there is of course a plurality of them arranged in stacked or superposed relationship within the carrier box B. When the carrier box B is elevated the gear 55 is rotated in a direction to cause the rack 53 to move the trigger 5b in a rearward direction. When the segmental gear 35 on the back of the gear 2t passes out of engagement with the gear 36 -there is nothing to support the carrier box B and it will drop until the nger 6G of the dog 59 engages one of the teeth 58 on the ratchet plate C. In this downward movement kthe gear 5d is rotated in the opposite direction and causes the rack 53 to move in the opposite direction pulling with it the trigger 5d. When this occurs the trigger 5l) is caused to project the lowermost marker 48 outwardly through the front of the carrier box as is indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. A rubber or friction wheel 'M is mounted on the shaft 5'5and is rotated whenever the gear 54 is rotated. The idler roller 'Imounted for free Vertical movement is disposed above the friction roller 14 and the marker 4'8 is projected outwardly between these two rollers. Impetus is given to the marker not only by thenger 5 l` at the rear of the trigger but also by reason ofthe frictional engagement of the roller 'M `with the under side of the marker. It is .intended that the marker be projected completely out of the carrier box and be permitted to drop upon the topmost sheet of the stack of sheets in the carboy. It is however also intended that this marker not be projected so far as to be completely hidden by the next sheet which dropsupon it. By this is meant, that a portion Yof the marker will stick out beyond the rear edges of the sheets within the carboy. To prevent they marker from being projected too far a friction arm i6 is provided. This arm is pivotal-ly supported at its upper end as at Tl and has a foot portion 'I8 which engages the upper face of arma-rker as the same is ejected from the carrier box. A coil spring '19 tends to cause frictional engagement between the shoes 'i3 and a marker and to lightly resist the outward swing of the friction arm 76. The tension of this spring 19 is such however as not to too greatly frictionally engage the marker and is sufcient only in amount to cause the marker to drop upon the uppermost plate of the stack of plates in the manner immediately before described.

Attention is called to the fact that the lower feed roller 9 is concave While the upper feed roller 8 is convex in cross sectional coniiguration. This construction keeps the thin tin or other material plates sti so that they cannot buckle as they pass between the rollers and will cause them to fall flat upon the stack of plates in the carboy.

By reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings it will be seen that at the front end of the platform l and at the front side of the carboy a vertically extending stop plate 8B is provided. This .plate is disposed an` equal distance between the side Walls i6 of the carboy and in this ligure of the drawings it is shown as broken away to permit better illustration ofthe marker carrying box B and its associated parts. This stop plate prevents the metallic plates from sliding or being projected forwardly out of the carboy as they are discharged forwardly from the feed rolls 8 and 9. It acts as an abutment `against which the metallic plates will be stacked in orderly and even relationship.

In Fig. 8 of the drawings a stack of counted and marked sheets indiagramatically illustrated, the sheets being designated by the numerals i'sl and the markers by the numerals B2.

In Fig. 7 of the drawings a modified form of the invention is illustrated. This construction differs only from that hereinbefore described by providing a double machine. Here a pair of machines, each identical to that hereinbefore described are provided in side to side relationship and driven from a single source of power. This arrangement would provide means for simultaneously counting, stacking and marking into cases both prime and seconds sheets which rmight be found to be desirable. By arranging several machines in adjacent relationship and using a commonksource of power the capacity of a portable counter could be easily increased to meet any particular conditions which might be existent.

From the description thus far given it will be understood that the shim or marker feeding trigger moves a shim in an outwardly direction over the carrier box B until the shim is disposed between the roller '|4 and the roller '|5. The roller T4 is a driven roller, that is, it is rotated by the rack 52 when the trigger is actuated while the roller 15 is an idler roller. The frictional engagement of the shim with the roller 'I4 enables this roller to complete the dispensing of the shim or marker past the friction arm or shoe 16.

After a cycle of operation it is of course desirable to return the parts to their original starting positions and to this end the gear 24 is provided on one of its faces with a gear |00. With this gear the gear |02 carried on the shaft |0| can be caused to mesh by depressing the shaft by exerting pressure upon the shaft head or handle |03. In a normal cycle of operation the gear 24 is revolved in a clockwise direction. There is nothing to prevent rotation of the gear in this direction because the stop pin |08 carried by the gear will strike the upper end of the weighted stop arm and rotate this arm on its pivot |00 and thus pass by the arm to continue its rotation in a clockwise direction. When resetting the device the gear |02 is caused to mesh with the gear |00 and the shaft |0| rotated to rotate the gear 24 in a counter-clockwise direction. To permit rotation of the gear in this direction the rod |04 is depressed which will lift the dog or stop against the tension of the spring 34. When the gear is completely reset the gear stop pin |08 will engage the stop arm |05 which will prevent further anti-clockwise rotation of the gear 24 as the pin |0`| will prevent the stop arm from being rotated on its pivot |05 as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Thus the arrangement is such that by rotating the gear 24 as far as possible in a counterclockwise direction the parts are automatically properly positioned for the start of a new cycle.

From the foregoing it will be seen and understood that I have provided a comparatively simple and inexpensive yet highly eflicient machine for accomplishing the desired results, but it is to be understood that while I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention I do not wish to limit myself thereto since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as dened in the following appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding and stacking sheet material, a vertically movable carrier positioned at one side of the stack of fed sheet material and having therein a plurality of individual markers, an ejector for the markers in said carrier for discharging a marker on to the top of the stack of fed sheets, and means operated by the passage of a predetermined number of sheets through said feeder for periodically elevating said marker carrier to a position above the stack of fed sheets and causing the marker ejector to operate.

2. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding and stacking sheet material, a vertically movable carrier positioned at one side of the stack of fed sheet material and having therein a plurality of individual markers, an ejector for the markers in said carrier, an individual sheet counter, a counter for indicating the passage through the feeder of a predetermined number of sheets, means operated by the passage of sheets through said feeder for actuating both of said counters, and said means which is operated by the passage of sheets through said feeder additionally operating upon the passage of a predetermined number of sheets through said feeder to elevate said marker carrier to a position above and cause the ejector thereof to operate.

3. A construction such as defined in claim 1 wherein, the markers within said carrierv are stacked in superposed relationship, and said ejector is positioned in the bottom of said carrier and upon operation ejects from said carrier the lowermost marker of said stack of markers.

4. In a sheet or plate handling machine, a receiving platform for the sheets, a pair of superposed rollers disposed above and at one side of said platform, power means to rotate one of said rollers to pull sheets through said rollers and project them onto said platform in stacked relationship, a flag-like member disposed in the path of travel of sheets passed through said rollers, said ag member being movably mounted and being moved by the passage of each sheet through said rollers, a counter, operative connection between said counter and said flag member, said counter indicating the passage of each sheet through said rollers, a carrying device mounted to move vertically in respect to said platform, a plurality of markers disposed within said carrying device, an operative connection between said marker carrying device and said flag member operating after the passage of a predetermined number of sheets to elevate said marker carrying device to a point above the stack of sheets on said platform, a projector for ejecting a marker from said carrying device onto the uppermost sheet of said stack of sheets, and means causing the operation of said projector each time said carrier is elevated.

5. A construction such as defined in claim 4 wherein, there is a second counter for indicating the passage through said feeder of a predetermined number of sheets, and said second counter being periodically operated by said first named counter.

6. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding and stacking sheet material, a sheet counting device, a vertically movable carrier having therein a plurality of markers and means for ejecting the same onto the stack of sheets which have passed through said feeding means, a movable iiag operable by the passage of each sheet through said feeding means to operate said counting device, and said ag having operative connection with said marker carrier to raise the same as the height of the stack of sheets increases and to cause the marker ejector to operate after the passage of a predetermined number of sheets through said feeding device.

7. In a machine for handling sheets of material, a fixed carboy, a pair of rollers at one side thereof and in elevated relationship thereto, means for driving one of said rollers to feed sheets to said carboy, a marker carrier at one side of said carboy and mounted for vertical movement in respect thereto, a plurality of markers within said carrier, an ejector for ejecting a marker from said carrier, a movably mounted flag associated with said rollers and disposed in the path of travel of a sheet therethrough, an operative Iconnection between said ag and said marker carrier operating to elevate said carrier to a point above the top of the stack of sheets on said carboy periodically upon the passage of a predetermined number of sheets through said feed rolls, means permitting said marker carrier to drop a predetermined distance after the same has been elevated as defined, and means operating 1110011 the dropping movement of said carrier to actuate said ejector and causing the same to project a marker onto the top of the stack of sheets in said carboy.

8. A construction such as defined in claim 7 wherein, there is a counter for indicating the passage of each sheet through said feed rolls, and said counter being operatively connected with said iiag and being caused to indicate the passage through the feed rolls of the sheet which actuated said flag.

9. A construction such as deiied in claim 7 wherein, there is an individual sheet counter, said iiag having operative connection with said counter for progressing the same one digit upon the passage of each sheet through said feed rolls, a second counter for indicating the passage through said feed rolls of a predetermined number of sheets, and said second counter being periodically operated by said first counter as said first counter indicates the passage through the feed rolls of that number of predetermined sheets which is indicated by said second counter.

10. In a machine for handling sheets of material, a receiver and stacker, a driven feeder for delivering sheets to said stacker, a movably mounted flag disposed in the path of travel of sheets through said feeder and being moved as each sheet passes through said feeder, a vertically movable marker carrier at one side of said stacker and having therein a plurality of markers, means within said carrier for ejecting a marker therefrom and delivering the same to the top of a stack of sheets in said receiver and stacker, said carrier provided with a pivotally mounted dog, a rack over which said dog is adapted to travel, said rack and dog adapted to interlock to support the carrier, means for periodically elevating said carrier, said carrier elevating means being actuated by the movement of said flag, said carrier elevating mechanism supporting said carrier while elevating the same but being disengaged from said carrier after elevating it, said carrier after said disengagement dropping until the dog thereof engages said rack, and said dropping movement of said carrier causing said ejector to operate and project a marker from the carrier, as described.

11. A construction such as defined lin claim 10 wherein, there is a counter for indicating the number of individual sheets which pass through said feeder, and said counter being actuated by the movement of said flag. l

12. A construction such as defined .in claim 10 wherein, there is a counter for indicating the number of individual sheets which pass through said feeder, said counter being operated by the movement of said flag, a second counter for 1ndicating the number of groups made up of a predetermined number of sheets which pass through said feeder, and said second counter being actuated periodically by said first counter.

13. In a sheet handling machine, a Sheetfeeder and a sheet stacker, a carrier at one side of said stacker and vertically movable in respect thereto, a plurality of individual markers in said carrier, a movably mounted flag positioned to be engaged and moved by each sheet passing through said sheet feeder, said flag being operatively connected to said carrier to progressively elevate the cairier to position the same above the top of the stack of sheets after a predetermined number of sheets have passed through said feeder, an ejector for discharging a marker on to the top of the stack of sheets each time after said carrier is elevated, and means to cause the operation of said ejector at the time stated.

14. In a sheet handling machine for feeding and stacking sheets, a vertically movable carrier having therein a plurality of markers, an ejector movable in respect to said carrier and adapted to engage and discharge a marker therefrom, a fixed vertically disposed rack, a gear mounted on said carrier and having engagement with said rack, a rack bar connected to said ejector and operatively connected to said gear, means to elevate said carrier and then permit it to drop by gravity, means to arrest the downward movement of said carrier after a short drop thereof and to support the carrier in its stopped position, the parts operating whereby the upward movement of the carrier moves the ejector into engagement with a marker and the downward movement of the carrier causes the ejector to discharge the marker from the carrier.

15. A construction such as dened in ,claim 4 wherein, one of said rollers is concave and the other is convex.

16. A construction such as defined in claim 4 wherein, friction means engages the marker being ejected from the carrier and retards the speed of discharge thereof to an extent sufficient to prevent the marker from being projected in its entirety on said stack, whereby a portion of the marker remains extending beyond the stack of sheets at one side thereof.

17. A construction such as defined in claim 4 wherein, the markers within the carrying device are arranged in stacked superposed relationship, and said marker projector being constructedto engage only a single marker at a time to project the same from said carrier as described.

18. A construction such as defined in claim 7 wherein, the markers are arranged in stacked superposed relationship within said carrier and one of said rollers is concave and the other conveX.

19. A construction such as defined in claim 10 wherein, when said carrier dog is elevated above the topmost tooth of said rack said carrier is free to drop by gravity to its lowermost position to be again raised through a cycle of operation wherein the carrier dog will periodically engage said rack as said carrier is again elevated.

20. A construction such as defined in claim 1 wherein, means is provided for reversing the direction of movement of said marker carrier elevating means to reset the machine to proper starting position after a cycle of operation.

FRED KLINK. 

